Brad Havens – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bradley David Havens finished up his Major League Baseball career in 1989 after eight seasons as a left-handed pitcher. That wrapped up a journey through five different organizations.

Born on November 17, 1959, in Highland Park, Michigan, Havens split his final season between the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers. He retired from professional baseball after that year.

Havens put together a career record of 24 wins and 37 losses over 205 games, striking out 370 batters and posting a 4.81 ERA in the majors. He played from 1981 to 1989, moving through the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, and Detroit Tigers. He never became a superstar, but he really embodied the journeyman pitcher role that kept so many teams afloat in the 1980s.

Brad Havens’ story gives a glimpse into the ups and downs of a professional athlete trying to make it in Major League Baseball. From his early years in Michigan to bouncing between starting and relieving, Havens’ career is a pretty good lesson in sticking with it and adapting to whatever comes your way in pro sports.

Early Life and Background

Bradley David Havens was born on November 17, 1959, in Highland Park, Michigan. That set the stage for a baseball career that lasted almost a decade in the major leagues.

He worked on his pitching at Kimball High School in Royal Oak, Michigan. The 1977 amateur draft opened the door to pro baseball for him.

Birthplace and Family

Brad Havens came into the world in Highland Park, Michigan, a city tucked inside the Detroit metro area. Born in 1959, he grew up where baseball had deep roots.

Highland Park sits in Michigan’s industrial heartland. The area cranked out plenty of athletes in the 1960s and 1970s.

His full name? Bradley David Havens. During his playing days, he stood 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 180 pounds.

He fell in love with baseball in Michigan’s youth leagues. By his teenage years, people already noticed his natural throwing arm.

High School Years

Havens went to Kimball High School in Royal Oak, just north of Detroit. That put him right in the middle of competitive high school baseball.

At Kimball, he sharpened his pitching mechanics. His left-handed delivery turned heads—college and pro scouts both noticed.

The school’s baseball program helped him grow as a starter. Havens could strike out batters with regularity.

His performance at Kimball caught the eye of Major League scouts. The California Angels started watching him closely during his senior year.

Draft and Signing

The California Angels picked Brad Havens in the 8th round of the 1977 June Amateur Draft. That kicked off his professional baseball adventure.

At just 17, Havens decided to sign with the Angels organization. He chose pro ball over college.

The Angels liked what they saw in his left-handed pitching. His high school numbers convinced them he could become a big-league pitcher.

He joined the Angels’ minor league system right after signing. That was the start of his climb through pro baseball’s ranks.

Getting drafted was the first real step toward his major league debut in 1981.

Professional Career Overview

Bradley David Havens pitched in Major League Baseball for eight seasons, from 1981 to 1989. He went 24-37 with a 4.81 ERA in 205 games.

He started out with the Minnesota Twins as a starter, then moved mostly to relief work with other teams.

Major League Debut

Brad Havens made his MLB debut on June 5, 1981, with the Minnesota Twins at 21 years old. He arrived as a promising left-handed starter, after the Angels drafted him in 1977.

His rookie season got off to a good start. Havens went 3-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 14 games, starting 12 of them.

He pitched 78 innings, struck out 43 batters, and allowed just six home runs. The young pitcher showed some durability and real potential.

He completed one game and threw one shutout as a rookie. His performance even earned him a ninth-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting.

Teams Played For

Havens bounced around five organizations in his eight-year career. He spent his first three years (1981-1983) with the Minnesota Twins, working mostly as a starting pitcher.

He missed the 1984 season, then joined the Baltimore Orioles for two years (1985-1986). His role changed a lot—he went from starting to relieving.

The Los Angeles Dodgers brought him in for 1987, where he kept working out of the bullpen. He had a brief return to the Dodgers in 1988 before a mid-season trade.

He finished up with the Cleveland Indians (1988-1989) and Detroit Tigers (1989). In those last seasons, he mostly made short appearances and didn’t pitch many innings.

Key Career Highlights

Havens’ best years came early, especially with Minnesota. In 1982, he had his top season: a 10-14 record and a 4.31 ERA in 33 starts.

He pitched 208.2 innings that year and struck out 129 batters. That was the only time he hit double digits in wins or went over 200 innings.

Career totals: 370 strikeouts in 590.2 innings. His best ERA was the 3.58 he put up as a rookie, and he never managed an ERA under 4.00 again.

He threw six complete games and two shutouts, both with the Twins, when he was mostly starting.

Retirement in 1989

Havens wrapped up his career during the 1989 season. He split that last year between the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers, making 20 appearances.

His final stats showed a pitcher near the end of the line. He went 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA in 36 innings, mostly as a reliever.

The 1989 season was tough for Havens. He gave up 46 hits in just 36 innings, walked 21, and struck out 21.

He made his last appearance with the Detroit Tigers. At 29, Havens stepped away from baseball, finishing with 24 wins, 37 losses, and a 4.81 ERA.

Pitching Performance and Statistics

Brad Havens finished his MLB career with 24 wins and 37 losses over eight seasons, posting a 4.81 ERA and 370 strikeouts in 205 games.

His performance changed a lot between home and road games. Those splits really defined how effective he was on the mound.

Career ERA Analysis

Brad Havens kept a career ERA of 4.81 over his eight seasons in the majors. That put him in the middle-tier reliever category from 1981 to 1989.

His 1989 season with Detroit showed some wild splits. At home, Havens posted a sharp 2.25 ERA over 16 innings in 10 games.

He allowed 21 hits and just 4 earned runs at home, walking 7. On the road, though, his ERA jumped to 7.20 over 20 innings in 10 games.

He gave up 25 hits, 16 earned runs, and 5 home runs on the road, walking 14. That big difference really shows how much the ballpark and conditions mattered for him.

Strikeouts and Innings Pitched

Over his MLB career, Brad Havens struck out 370 batters in 205 games. That’s about 1.8 strikeouts per appearance.

His strikeout rate fit his role—he mostly pitched in relief, not as a starter. In short relief, you just don’t rack up huge strikeout totals.

In 1989, Havens threw 36 innings in 20 games. He didn’t throw a single wild pitch that year.

He could locate his pitches and avoid big command problems. The mix of moderate strikeout numbers and decent control made Havens a steady middle reliever.

Season by Season Stats

Havens played for five teams in his eight-year career. He pitched for the Minnesota Twins (1981-83), Baltimore Orioles (1985-86), Los Angeles Dodgers (1987-88), Cleveland Indians (1988-89), and Detroit Tigers (1989).

His career win-loss record of 24-37 shows he often pitched in tough spots. Relievers usually come in with the game already on the line.

The 1989 season was his last in pro baseball. He made 20 appearances for Detroit, with his final game on July 23, 1989, against the California Angels.

In that last outing, he pitched 0.0 innings, giving up 1 hit and 1 walk. Havens finished his career with a WHIP of 1.47, which is decent for a reliever from his era.

He kept things pretty steady across several teams, showing his value as a reliable bullpen arm.

Notable Seasons and Achievements

Brad Havens had his best big league year in 1982 with the Minnesota Twins, putting up career numbers as a starting pitcher. He also shined in the minors, earning the American Association Pitcher of the Year award in 1984.

Standout 1982 Season

Havens turned in his top major league season in 1982, pitching for Minnesota. He finished with a 10-14 record and a 4.31 ERA, and he basically became the team’s staff ace alongside Bobby Castillo and Albert Williams.

The Twins were a last-place club, but Havens still proved himself as a reliable starter. His 10 wins were a career high.

He showed good control and effectiveness all year. That season made it look like he might become a cornerstone of the Twins’ rotation.

1982 was the only year he reached double-digit wins in the majors.

Opening Day Starter

Havens made his big league debut on June 5, 1981, against the Detroit Tigers at just 21. He pitched six innings, gave up only two hits, struck out four, and walked two—though he took the loss.

His rookie season had promise, even with a 3-6 record. Havens finished with a 3.58 ERA in 14 games that second half of 1981.

He posted a 43-to-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which showed off his command as a young pitcher. That debut showed his potential as a left-handed starter.

He could limit hits and pile up strikeouts, which definitely caught the attention of scouts and coaches.

Minor League Accomplishments

Havens really shined in 1984 with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens. He won American Association Pitcher of the Year after going 11-10 with a 2.98 ERA.

He tossed 12 complete games in 25 starts that season. That kind of durability and effectiveness at Triple-A stood out.

Baseball analyst Bill James even put Havens on his “Ken Phelps All-Star team” in 1987. James liked Havens’ two good pitches and his solid strikeout rates.

That recognition pointed out the gap between his minor league dominance and his tougher times in the majors.

Playing Style and Legacy

Brad Havens built a reputation as a versatile left-handed pitcher, shifting from starting to relief work over his nine-season career. His impact on teams changed a lot depending on his role, and people mostly remembered him for his adaptability rather than any overpowering performances.

Pitching Techniques

Havens threw left-handed. He stood 6’1″ and weighed somewhere between 180 and 196 pounds during his career.

His pitching style changed a lot as he shifted from starting to relief roles.

When Havens joined the Minnesota Twins from 1981 to 1983, he mainly worked as a starter. In 1982, he pitched 208⅔ innings, showing some real durability. The Twins even picked him to start Opening Day in 1983, which says a lot about their trust in him.

He spent 1984 in the minors, then made the switch to being a reliever. That move stuck for the rest of his big-league days. His lefty delivery gave him an edge against left-handed hitters.

Havens struggled with consistency. He put up a 5.00 ERA both as a starter (1981-1983) and as a reliever (1985-1987). Over his first six seasons, he struck out 311 batters in 487⅔ innings—not exactly overpowering, but he got the job done.

Impact on Teams

Havens played different roles for five major league teams. His impact really depended on what each team needed and how his skills changed over time.

Minnesota Twins (1981-1983): Havens made his biggest mark as a starter, eating up innings and giving the rotation some stability. His 208⅔ innings in 1982 helped anchor their pitching staff.

Baltimore Orioles (1985-1986): He worked out of the bullpen and added some depth during his two years there.

Los Angeles Dodgers (1987-1988): Manager Tommy Lasorda mostly used Havens in low-pressure situations. Lasorda once joked about Fernando Valenzuela throwing 150 pitches, saying, “Who should have I brought in? Havens?” That about sums up his role.

Havens only pitched in nine games for the 1988 World Series champion Dodgers before they sent him to the minors in May. He wasn’t interested in that assignment and got traded to Cleveland.

Cleveland Indians (1988-1989): Havens had a good run in Cleveland, posting a 3.14 ERA in 28 relief appearances in 1988.

Recognition and Reputation

People recognized Havens more for his longevity and adaptability than for dominating on the mound. Over nine seasons and five teams, he proved himself as a reliable roster piece.

Starting Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins in 1983 stands out as his top achievement. That moment really showed the team’s faith in him as a starter.

He took part in two big trades involving future Hall of Famers. The Angels sent him, Ken Landreaux, and others to Minnesota for Rod Carew in 1979. Later, Baltimore traded him to the Dodgers for Tom Niedenfuer.

Later in his career, teams saw him as a “mop-up man,” handling the less stressful parts of games. Even though his stats were modest, teams still valued his experience and left-handed arm.

After hanging up his spikes, Havens started Brad Havens Baseball Clinics, Inc. in Michigan. He kept his connection to baseball alive by teaching and developing young players.

Life After Baseball and Personal Insights

Bradley David Havens walked away from professional baseball after his retirement in 1989. He stayed close to his Michigan roots and tried out some new ventures. He’s mostly kept a low profile since then.

Post-Retirement Activities

Once he left Major League Baseball, Havens stepped away from the spotlight. While some former players stick around as coaches or broadcasters, he decided to go a different way.

Like a lot of retired athletes, he had to adjust to life without the structure of spring training, games, and constant travel. That couldn’t have been easy.

Playing for five different teams during his career probably helped him get used to new situations. The skills he picked up moving from one club to another came in handy after baseball.

Personal Life Details

Havens was born on November 17, 1959, in Highland Park, Michigan. His Michigan roots always meant a lot to him, and he stayed connected to Royal Oak Kimball High School, which still takes pride in his success.

He’s the only player from Royal Oak Kimball to reach the major leagues. That’s made him a bit of a local legend.

His Detroit-area background made his short time with the Detroit Tigers in 1989 extra special. Like plenty of Detroit kids, he dreamed of playing at Tiger Stadium—and he actually did it.

Community Involvement

You won’t find tons of details about Havens’ community involvement in public records. Still, people in Royal Oak Kimball know him as their only major league player, and that alone has made him a bit of a local legend.

Baseball podcasts and local sports history chats have picked up his story here and there. I mean, it’s not every day someone from your high school makes it to the big leagues.

Young athletes in his old school, and honestly, the whole area, can look at what he did and think, “Hey, maybe I can do that too.” His success feels like proof that those big dreams aren’t totally out of reach.

People have pointed out that Havens isn’t exactly a household name in MLB circles. But honestly, that’s pretty common. Most pros just slip back into regular life once they retire.

He seems to have helped out in his community quietly, never really chasing the spotlight. Maybe that’s the way he likes it.